Heating means



Dec. 11, 1945. H. s. VVV'HELLER HEATING MEANS 2 Sheets-Shet 1 Filed April 6, 1945 Dec. 11, 1945. H. s. WHELLER 2,390,630

HEATING MEANS Filed April 6, 1943 Sheets-Sheet2 Patented Dec. 11, 1945 HEATING Means Harry Stewart Wheller, Elizabeth, N. J., assignmto L. J..Wing Mfg. Co. ,poration of New York New York, lfl. Y., a cor Application April 6, 1943, Serial No. 481,967

, A 17 Claims.

The present invention relates to heating devices conventionally termed unit heaters, and more particularly to that type in which air is forcedby a fanthrough a heater and the thus heated air then, discharged through outlets into a room or space in which the heating device is located andinto the working area to which the heated. air is discharged, such as the heaters described jana claimed Patent No. 2,000,112 grantedto me May 7, 1935.

Thelheaters, which are the subject of that patent and to which. the invention of this application isan improvement, are provided with a revolving air discharge casing, preferably having a plurality of outlets through which the heated air is discharged to the working area.

,In order to direct thestream of air discharged from eachoutlet continuousl in succession to all points of theroom or working area in which the heater is located,the discharge casing is mounted on the heater so that it may be rotatedthereabout to accomplishsuch gperation by which the heated air is continuously successively discharged to all parts of the room or working area aboutthe heater and thereby uniformly diffused throughout the entire working area.

Since the air isthus discharged in equal quantity to each part of the room or working area about the circumference of the revolving heater discharge, rotatable discharge unit heaters of the former construction, as described in my said patent, theoretically operate most efliciently in a symmetrical area such as a square area, as distinguished from a non-symmetrical area, such as an oblong area.

Where, however, such heaters operate in a working area which is not'uniform in arrangement about the axis of revolution'of the discharge casing, for example, such [as an oblongroom or area, all parts of the room ,orarea willnot be uniformly heated. For example, if theheater is in the center of an oblong room, the same quantity of air is sent to the smaller areas at the sides of the room as is sent to the larger areas at the ends of the room Thereforathe smaller areas at the sides will; be heated to a greater extent than the larger areas at the ends, and thusall parts of; the roorn will not be uniformly heated.

My present invention, therefore, contemplates the provisionof a unit heater, having a revolving discharge, so constructed and arranged that it will "operate as eificiently in a non-uniformarea such as an oblong space, as it will in a uniform or square area.

My "invention, "therefore, in a revolving discharge unit heater, provides means, such as a deflector" or damper, whereby the heated air is not discharged ll'n itfisobstructed or blocked off in a selected directio'n' which requires less 'heat through' a outlet which becomes closed in that direction asit fisrevolved about the heater, such the dischargecasing of such a unit heater may be selectively changed to any desired position about the axis of heater revolution relative to the working area in which the heater is located so 25' that air will not be discharged in the selected direction through an outlet as it is brought into registration or alignmentjwith the damper or defiector means whereat it has been positioned.

, Such provision permits the universal application of unit heaters of a generaldesign to working areas or roonis having any type of space configuration or heat requirement, without requiring that a given unit heater be designed for the partieularshape of .the space, room or working area in. which it is to be located.

invention yet turther contemplates the provision of a damperor deflector means, the size,

or area of which, in addition tqits relativepositionthe heater, may be selectively changed so that the amount of .heated air discharged to any particular part .of the working areaor room may, also be increasedor. decreased, as desired.

These, other and further objects, features and advantages .of the present invention .willbe clear from, the following description and the drawings relatingtheifeto inwhich Fig.. 1 is. an elevational view of aheater according tomy invention; i

Fig; 2 =is a bottom plan view.thereof the bottom" wall broken away to show the damper means associated therewith.

Fig. 3 is a section of the discharge casing on the line 33 of the Fig. 2 and showing the heater but omitting the motorand the fan.

Fig. 4 is a plan view of a damper means used in the practice of my invention.

Figs. 5 and 6 are respectively side and front elevations thereof, the latter view partially broken away to show the extension slides or plates.

Fig. 7 is a schematic detail showing a rotatable discharge casing bearing and a damper or deflector means support.

Fig. 8 is a schematic plan view of my heater arranged in an oblong space or working area.

Since my-invention is applied to unit heaters that are provided with a revolving discharge castherefrom, each outlet I6 preferably has provided the louvers or baffles 22,which are pivctally secured at the sides 24 of'the outlet as by means of the bolts 26, Which bolts are arranged to'pering, examples of which have been described and claimed in Patent No. 2,000,112, granted to me, details of construction of the casing, the manner in which it is mounted and the means for revolving it need not here be given, reference being had to my said patent. such details, in the main, will be schematically given in only sufficient detail for an understanding of the present invention. i

In that practical embodiment of my invention as I have practiced it, and which I have illustrated in'the drawingsby way of example, referring now to Figs. 1 to 3, the heater casing I die preferably suspended overhead, as to the ceiling of a room in the selected position therein, in any suitable manner known in the art and which; therefore, need not be described. I It will, of-course, be understood-that myinvention may be applied to any type of heater having a revolving discharge, as for example, a wall or floor type, and that I do not intend to limit myself to thespecific structure here illustrated.

' The heater casing I0 is provided with conventional finned heating tubes, connected to the steam heating systemineither here illustrated asthey are well known) and the air to be heated is directed through the casing l0 over the heating tubes by the fan l2, and; discharged from the rotatable discharge casing l4 through the outlets t6 thereon. V

The motor 18 drives the fan l2 mounted coaxially therewith and may be carried on the heater casing l0, asby the arms 20, secured thereto in any suitable manner.

It will, of course, be understood that fresh, outside air may be supplied to the heater casing 10 through a duct connected thereto or already heated air may be supplied directly to a revolving discharge through a duct on which the discharge is. mounted for rotation in the space to be heated.

While I have shown the discharge casing M with four discharge outlets l6, circumferentially arranged on the casing 90" apart, one outlet in each quadrant, it will be understood that one, two or any desired or convenient other number of outlets may be provided instead. Further, such outlets may take any other form and may be inclin'ed at any desired angle.

The discharge casin I4 is mounted on the heater casing lllfor continuous rotation thereon, as 1 will be explained, and so that the outlets l6 communicate with interior of the casing 10 in order that the heated air is discharged from the outlets to the space or working area in which the heater is located toward that part thereof to whic h the outlet in its motion is directed.

In order to deflect the heated air, as it issues In the within application;

mit adjustment of the louver-s or baflies to anyselected angle.

As pointed out in my said Patent No. 2,000,112, in order to eliminate certain disadvantages in unit heaters in which the outlets are stationary, such as, the production of adjacent and alternate columns or strata of heated and cooler air throughout the space or working area in which the heater is located, the discharge casing is mounted in the heater for rotation thereon and different means for driving it are provided.

The heated air discharge outlets are successively moved and directed continuously through and toward contiguous parts of the working area, to direct streams of heated air at intervals to each and every given point in the working area so that certain sections only of the working area continuously receive a blast of heated air, as is the case with the heaters having stationary discharge casings.

With the heater here serving as an illustration of the present invention, as practiced by me in one form thereof, the discharge casing I4 is driven. by a separate motor 28, carried on the platform or apron 30, of a supporting bracket on I the heater casing by means of the pulley 32 coaxially mounted on the motor 28 shaft and the belt 34 which rides in the groove 35 in the up.- right annular wall 36 of the discharge casing.

It is unnecessary to illustrate the junction or bearing between the annular'wall 36 of the rotating discharge l4 and a corresponding flange or.

to which reference is also made for app1icati0n here.

In the illustration shown in the appended drawings, a'bearing 38 (schematically illustrated since forms thereof are well known) for the revolving discharge 14 may be carried as on the shaft 40 secured tostationary supporting arms 42 on the heater casing Ill, The rotating outer housing or race 44 of the bearing 38, which is preferably a ball or roller bearing, is secured for rotation to the carrying arms 46 on the rotatable discharge casing I4.

It will be recognized that the same quantity of air will be discharged from each outlet 16, as it revolves about its axis of rotation, successively to the contiguous parts of the working area or room in which the heater is placed. A revolving discharge, therefore. operates theoretically most efficiently in a symmetrical area, such as a square area, at the center of which it may be located, since each surrounding part (because the working area is uniformly disposed about the heater) must equally receive the stream of heated air issuing from a rotating discharge outlet.

But, on the contrary, when a heater of this kind operates in an area that is not uniform about the point of heater suspension, as for example, in the oblong area or room schematically illustrated in Fig. 8, the parts thereof adjacent the side walls 48 and 50 will be relatively overheated since each outlet discharges thereat the same quantity of heated air as it discharges to I thelarger the en dwalls 52 and'54. i

Theprsent invention, therefore,- providesa deflector or damper means which maybe fixed in selected position about theaxis of rotation 56 of the casing 14 at the periphery thereof so that each outlet I6 is automaticallyor spontaneously parts of the working area adjacent closedjfior partially) as it is brought into registrati'on or alignment with a deflector or damper means to shut off or decrease delivery of heated air that part of the'area or space where it is,

tobelirnited! r Where affour ,waytype of discharge casing is used, Ijhave, used apair of opposed dampers 58 and 60, oircumferentially arranged at the periphery of rotation of the discharge casing and 180 apartgjThe dampers 58 and 60 are removably secured, to the rod 62, which enters the eye 64 in the supporting arm .66 and the eye 68 in the iipfper supporting arm bymeansjof the lockingbolts or set screwsj H! and 12; which en age thelflatsfll and 1,3,ontherod 62.

tral of thedischarge casing on theflshaft 40 to issecured by the pin and lochnut the housing, or, race 16 of the bearing 38, and threadedtothe shaft-L401 To. secure a, damper to, its Q supporting arm, I preferably spotweld one element of a clip to the, damper and secure the other element 11 of the blip to the supportingarm, as by the bolts 19.

,It will belrecogni zed that either one orboth oi lthe dampers maybe removedor one, two or more dampers, used and their, position about the axis of rotation 56, selectively changed or/ adjustedto thereby provide a heater, as here conetemplatedpthat isfuniversally adaptable to a room of any shape orconfiguration.

' Referring now to Fig. ,8, upon the discharge casing assuming during its rotation the position there illustrated, the maximum quantity of heated air is delivered from the uncovered or unobstructed outletsA and B and no heated air or aminimum quantity thereof delivered from the outlets C and D closed or obstructed by the dampers 58 andfill. l 1,

As the casing I6 is rotated in the direction of the arrows 'l8, the outlets C and-D are, gradually uncovered and unobstructed so that a gradually increasing amount of heated air (between the minimumand maximum) is delivered by them.

,Conversely as the outlets A,and B approach and, are brought into registration or alignment with the dampers 58 andBll they are gradually covered and obstructed so that a gradually decreasing, amount, of heated airgxfrom maximum to minimum) is delivered by them;

Thus, a long narrow room or hon-uniform space is given the advantages of revolving heat distribution without sacrifice in efficiency, by obstructing or. cutting off the delivery of air in that direction where it is not required or should be limitedin amount.

-Where the shape or configuration of the space orroom orother conditions make it desirable, I provide a damper, the's'ize or area of which may be increased to cut on br-obstruct 'the'delivery of 'heated air through a arse; section about the axis of rotation in the selected direction.

To accomplish this, referring now 'toiFig s. l, 5 and 6 theedgesof a'damper may be bentover tdforiri theu pper 80 and lower 82 depending lips,

which innerfhousing or'race 76 may be er extension slides or plates Bland 86 ride. f

By moving the: extension platestogether so ,that their insidee'dges 88 and!!! abut, the min imum damper size is obtained and by fully separating the plates so that these edges are positioned near the outer edg'es,92 andll4 of the dampen'the maximum damper size is obtained. Therefore, suitably positioning the plates inthe damper groove, as indicated by the dotted lines in Figs. 4 and 6, the size of the damper may be selectivelyfadjusted between the minimum and maximum to cut err delivery of heated air toany desired sizeot space,

It will now be apparent that I have provided a revolving discharge unit heater which may with improved efliciency be operated in a space which f is notjuniformin shape or configuration "or a working area, parts of which have heat require? e ts d fi ringfr m othe part and as eflicie t; lyfasfit would operate in a' space thatisTsynr-f metrical in area or a Work area, the part which have the same heat requirement;

It will be ,further apparent thatl l laveprm vided such a heater in which meansare provided by which,the air delivered injanyselected direjc' tion may beautomaticallyand spontaneously pt; structed or out on in selectively. adjustable amounts to accommodate, or adapt fthe heater to spaces of different "shapes, jconfigurations and heat requirements As, obviously, man variations may be made in the embodimentof my invention which I have 1 described, within the scope, and spirit of the in} vention, I do not intend tobe limited to the exact details disclosed but intend to, claim myinven tion as, broadly as the scope of the appended claims and the state of'the prior art allowl I claim:

1,111 a device 'for circulating a stream of air I intoaspacein which the device is positioned, a support, a casing on the support for rotation thereabout means for rotating the casing, an out let, ,on th casing for continuously f directing a stream of air in succession to allpointspf the space upon rotation of the casing about thesupport,,a fan for circulating a'stream of air through the casing and dischargingit from the outlet, said outlet of selected dimensions, and a damper mounted on the support in fixed position to the axis of rotation of the casing andat the periphery thereof, said damper of selected. dimensions to obstruct the outlet and shut 01f discharge of air therethrough upon bringing the outlet into registration with the damper during rotation of the casing aboutjthe support.

2. The device of claim 1, the damper having means for selectively fixing the position thereof onthe support relative rto the axis of rotation of the casing.

3.- flhe'deviceof claim 1, the siz e of theidamper means; being adjustable with respectrto the size of the outlet. i I

4. A unithe'ater, comprising ahea ter section,

a frameextending therefrom, a discharge casing having an ioutlet ofxselected dimensions and rota'table onthe; frame'thereabouti meansfor r0 tating the discharge casing, a fancarried by the heater section forcirCulating a stream of air through the heater section and? the outletwand a damper on the frame in fixed position to the axis of rotation of the casing,tsaid damper of selecteddimensions to obstruct the outlet u-pon bringing the outlet into registration with the which form rail-like grooves, in whichthe dampdamper during; rotation. of the casing about. the

frame.

.5. The device defined, claim la the; said casing. V

6'; The device defined in. claim 4', the. size. or said damper means being. adjustable with respect tovthesizeof the outlet.

fl, a heating means for. circulating. a. stream of air in a working. area in which the heating. means is positioned, means, for-generating and heating, a. stream ot air, a supporting, means. ex,- tending from the heating means, a dischargecasing arranged. for rotation. about the. supporting means, means for rotating the, discharge. casing, said} discharge. casing having. an. outlet, and a damper. means. located within. the discharge casingand arranged. therein. to obstruct the now of air throughithe. outlet at. certain positions; upon rotation of. the casing, said outlet of selected dimension and said damper means" of selected dimension.

8.. In. a, heating, means for cirjc'l'ilating a stream of air in. a working, area in which the heating means is. positioned, means for; generating, and heatingv a. stream of. air, a. supporting means extending from the heating means, a discharge casing arranged for rotation about the supporting means, means f o'r rotating the discharge casing, said discharge casing having an outlet, and a damper means located within. the discharge casing. and arranged therein to obstruct the flow of air through the outlet at certain positions upon rotation of the casing, said outlet of selected dimension andsaid damper means of selected dimension, the damper having means for selective. positioning thereof relative to the discharge casing.

9. In a heating means for circulating a stream of air in a working area in which the heating means. is positioned, means for generatin and heating a stream of air, a supporting means extending from the heating means, a'discharge.

casing. arran ed for rotation about the supporting. means, means for rotating the discharge casing, said discharge casing having an outlet, and a. damper means located within the dischargecasing and arranged therein to obstruct the flow of aii" through the outlet at certain positions upon rota ion of the casing, said outlet of selected dimension and said dam er means of selected dimension, the size of said damper means being adjustalo'le'.

' 10. In a unit heater for positioning in a space, means for generating and heating a stream of air, a discharge casing arranged for rotation and having an outletof selected size for discharging the stream of air therefrom successively to contiguous arts of the space u on rotation of the casing, means for rotating the discharge casing and damperrneans of selected size located within thedischarge casing and so arranged therein to obstruct xthe flow of air through the outlet upon rotation (if the casing when the outlet is brought into registration with the dam er means.

11. In a heater for positioning in a space, means for generating and heating a stream of air, a discharge casing arranged for rotation and having" an outletof selected size for discharging the stream of air therefrom successively to. contig'uous parts of the space upon rotation of the casing, means. for rotating the discharge casing and damper means of selected size located within the discharge casing and so arranged therein to obstruct the. flow of air through the. outlet. upon.

rotation of the. casing. when the outlet is. brought.

into registration with the damper means the;

damper having means for selective positioningthereof. relative tothe casing,

1 2.. Inauni-tv heater for positioning in. a space,

meansfor generating. and heating, a stream. of air, a discharge casing arranged for rotation and havobstruct. the. flow of. air through, the. outlet upon rotation of the casing whenthe outlet. is brought into registration with the. damper means, the. size 7 of the. damper means being adjustable.

13. In aunilt' heater. for positioning in. a space, means for generating and heating a streamof' air. a supporting frame, a discharge casin arranged. thereon for rotation thereabout, means for rotate ing the discharge casing, a plurality of; outletson the said casing forv successively discharging from each a stream of air to contiguouspartsofthe space upon. rotation of the casing and aplurality of spaced damper means on :the frame and located within the discharge casing and, so ar ranged as to obstruct the flow of air discharged through an outlet upon rotation of. the said casing to bring an outlet. int registration with a damper means.

14. Ina unit heater for positioning in a space, means for generating and heating a stream. of air, a supporting frame, a discharge casing arranged thereon for rotation thereabout, means for rotatin the discharge casing, a plurality of outlets on the said casing for successively discharging from each a stream of air to contiguous parts of the space upon rotation of the casing and a plurality of spaced damper means on the frame. and,

located within the discharge casing and so arranged as to obstruct the flow of air discharged through an outlet. upon rotation of the said casing to bring an outlet into registration with a, damper means, the position of each. damper means relative to the casing being adjustable on the frame.

15. In a unit heater for positioning in a space, means for generating and heating a stream of air, a supporting frame, a discharge casing arranged thereon for rotation thereabout, means for rotating-the discharge casing, a plurality of" outlets on the said casing for successively dis- I charging from each a stream of air to contiguous parts of the space upon rotation of the casing and a plurality of spaced damper mean on the frame and located within the discharge casing and so arranged as to obstruct the flow of air discharged through an outlet upon rotation of the said casing to bring an outlet into registration with a damper means, the size of each damper means being adjustable.

16. In a unit heater for positioning in a space,

means for generating and heating a stream of air, supporting means extending therefrom, a rotatable discharge casing on said. supporting means, said casing having in each quadrant thereof an outlet for successively discharging from each outlet a stream of air to contiguous parts of the space upon rotation of the. casing, said outlets uniformly spaced from each other, means for rotating the discharge casing and spaced damper means on the supporting means and located within the discharge casing and soy arranged to obstruct the flow of air discharged through an outlet upon rotation of the casing to bring the outlet into registration with a damper means.

17. In a unit heater for positioning in a space, means for generating and heating a stream 'of air, supporting means extending therefrom, a, rotatable discharge casing on said supporting means, said casing having in each quadrant i thereof an outlet for successively discharging from each outlet a stream of air to contiguous 10 to the casing bein adjustable.

HARRY S. WHELLER. 

